The enterprise applications market is undergoing profound changes. As the market for core back-office functionality becomes saturated, the focus has shifted to the support of industry-specific business processes and add-on functionality such as performance management. Consolidation continues to sweep the industry as software vendors aim for larger scale to fund the escalating R&D expenditure. Meanwhile, the distinction between so-called best-of-breed vendors and ERP suite vendors is starting to blur as niche vendors get certified on top of emerging service-oriented architecture (SOA) compliant application platforms. Traditional licensing is changing as users of software solutions broaden to include customers, suppliers, and partners, and subscription-type licensing gains popularity. Composite applications and business process workbenches are changing the way enterprise software is developed and sold. IDC's European Enterprise Applications service helps vendors to understand and penetrate the crowded yet stubbornly heterogeneous European markets and enables players to focus product development and sales/marketing efforts.

This service covers the following segments of the European enterprise applications market:

• Enterprise resource application (ERP)
• Human capital management (HCM) and payroll
• Supply chain management (SCM)
• Customer relationship management (CRM)

Throughout the year, this service will address the following topics:

• Enterprise application market evolution in Europe
• End-user solution spending expectations
• Market opportunity and growth trends
• Solution best practices at European organizations
• Country-specific dynamics by solution area
• Competitive environment and recommendations for vendors

Our research addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. How penetrated are enterprise applications among European organizations?
2. Which industries and company size bands are the critical focal points for vendors in the coming year?
3. How should vendors position themselves to make the most of the market opportunities?
4. Which are the strongest vendors in this market?
5. What do end-user organizations need to keep in mind when deploying enterprise applications?

IDC's European Enterprise Applications service examines how independent software vendors (ISVs) are positioning themselves to compete in the European enterprise applications market. This service reviews strategies, market positioning, and future direction of several providers in the European enterprise applications market, including:

Adexa, ADP, Aldata Solutions, AlmavivA, Amdocs, Aspect Software, Aspen Technology, Avaya, CCS, CedarOpenAccounts, Cegedim, Cegid, Chordiant Software, Click Commerce, Coheris, DATEV, Descartes Systems, Epicor, ESA Software, Exact Software, GFI Informatique, GXS, HR Access Solutions, i2 Technologies, IBS, IFS, Infor Business Solutions, JDA Software Group, Kewill Systems, Lawson, Manhattan Associates, Microsoft Business Solutions, Northgate Information Solutions, Oracle, Personal & Informatik, Personec, QAD, Sage Group, Salesforce.com, SAP, SAS Institute, SSA Global, Sterling Commerce, SuperOffice, Swisslog, Systems Union, Unit 4 Agresso, Update Software, and Visma.

Throughout the year, this service will offer insight into the latest trends impacting the market. Potential studies include:

These studies (for ERP, HCM, SCM, and CRM) provide a comprehensive list of market forecast assumptions, country-level market size data, and a five-year country-level forecast for supply chain spending.

These studies (for ERP, HCM, SCM, and CRM) evaluate the competitive positioning, relative revenue, and go-to-market strategies of vendors. They also provide a leadership grid and vendor shares by region.

End-user perspectives, case studies, vendor profiles, and significant European events.

IDC offers a complete market intelligence solution customized to meet your business requirements. The array of products and services available to you includes:

• The opportunity to have your specific questions answered through personal interaction with industry experts who cover the topics and markets in your service
• Around-the-clock access to our market intelligence on idc.com, IDC's personalized Web experience
• A view of the market's future with 12 months of continuous intelligence about its direction and the reasons behind it, along with actionable advice for taking advantage of existing and emerging opportunities
• Complimentary/special admission price to IDC's annual Directions conference, where you'll hear our latest forecasts and network with IDC analysts and other industry professionals
• Complimentary invitations to monthly executive telebriefings, interactive forums designed to provide you with insights about research and strategies directly from IDC analysts

To find out how our flexible packaging options can meet your specific business needs, please contact your IDC account manager.

As a privately held company, IDC believes that our customers are our primary constituency. A large percentage of every revenue dollar is reinvested back into our products, including more analysts, more geographic coverage, and extensive primary research.

Our steady growth over the past 10 years reflects our commitment to investing in our customers.